BYD, a leading Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has made a significant move in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market by launching four new electric commercial vehicles in collaboration with local partner Al-Futtaim, who has now become one of its strategic investors.
The launch event took place in Dubai on February 26, where the companies unveiled the following electric commercial vehicles:
1. ETM6 all-electric truck: This urban logistics vehicle has a load capacity of 3.6 tons and is equipped with a 126-kWh blade battery pack.
2. Light Truck T5: With a load capacity of 4 tons, this model is designed for urban logistics and features a 132-kWh blade battery pack.
3. Medium-duty truck ETH8: Capable of carrying 10 tons, this model is ideal for heavy-duty commercial tasks and comes with a 255-kWh blade battery pack.
4. B12 electric bus: A 12-meter-long city bus with a blade battery capacity of 425 kWh, offering a range of up to 550 kilometers.
The introduction of these models signifies BYD’s strong presence in the UAE’s commercial vehicle market, providing local businesses and public transportation operators with environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
In a separate development, BYD recently announced plans to raise HK$43.5 billion ($5.6 billion) in Hong Kong through the issuance of new H shares. As part of this initiative, the UAE-based Al-Futtaim family office participated as a strategic investor. Moving forward, BYD and Al-Futtaim intend to establish a strategic partnership to deepen collaboration in the field of new energy vehicles (NEVs).
The Al-Futtaim Group, founded in the 1930s and headquartered in the UAE, has a strong presence in more than 20 countries across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, working with over 200 international brands. This partnership with BYD marks a significant milestone in their collaboration, following the successful launch of the Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) electric vehicle in the UAE in 2023.
BYD’s sales figures reflect its growing success in the commercial NEV market, with 4,613 units sold in February alone, representing a 719.36% increase from the previous year. In the first two months of the year, BYD sold a total of 8,705 commercial NEVs, marking a 739.44% growth compared to the same period last year.
With these new developments and partnerships, BYD continues to lead the way in sustainable transportation solutions, driving towards a greener and more efficient future for the automotive industry.
